Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the ‘iDEX Investor Hub’ (iIH), on 15 February, under which more than Rs 200 crores had already been pledged by leading Indian investors.
He also launched the ninth edition of ‘Defence India Startup Challenges (DISC 9)’ on “Cybersecurity” during the annual defence innovation event ‘Manthan’ as part of the Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru.
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) is the flagship initiative of the Department of Defence Production to encourage start-ups and other such entities engaged in defence innovation.
Singh also released the Indian Army’s compendium of ‘110 Problem Statements’ for indigenous defence research, design, development and manufacturing ecosystem
The ‘Problem Statements’ highlight Indian Army’s technological challenges and requirements in various domains ranging from Armament, Surveillance & Fire Control Systems to niche domains such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Metaverse, Robotics, Quantum Technology, Cyber, and ‘Smartisation’ of Ammunition. Further, they also involve induction of new technologies, upgradation of existing systems & indigenisation of critical components.
This Compendium would enable focused efforts towards modernising the Indian Army with indigenous solutions, thereby building a stronger and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, the release said. Industry and Academia will be hand-held by the Indian Army through various research and development routes including iDEX, Technology Development Fund (TDF) and Army Technology Board (ATB), it was stated.
‘DISC 9’ is the first collaboration of iDEX with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (i4C) division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. These challenges have been curated from Services, DPSUs, and Ministry of Home Affairs, revealing the deep impact and interest iDEX has generated amongst the Defence industry.
The fourth edition of Innovate4Defence internship (i4D) was also launched, inviting applications from students all over India, during the event.
DIO has also signed MoUs with ISRO, IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre), and ISpA (Indian Space Association) to further strengthen the Defence Space, the release said, adding that another MoU was signed with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to potentially launch start-up challenges in the future.
Rajnath Singh also said that India will spend 75 per cent of the total defence capital outlay for procurement from domestic defence manufacturers in 2023-24.
The move will mean setting aside around Rs one lakh crore for procurement from domestic sources out of the total defence capital outlay of Rs 1,62,600 crore announced in the Union Budget for the next fiscal, officials said.
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